All The President Trophy’s Men

You know what Twitter is right? It is the form of social media that is used strictly for peer to peer interaction and to share information freely across the internet. It was the first source of knowledge when a plane landed in the Hudson River. It’s what allows Howard Stern to take you backstage right before he goes on Dave Letterman. And over the past few months it’s the form of media that has been so embraced by the National Hockey League, that you, the fans, can now feel like you are in the locker room, understanding the trials and tribulations of being a hockey player firsthand. And others just use it to make money.

RT @whatchutalkinabout: just met Messier. he went a little Mr. Horton on me.

So now that all 30 NHL teams have verified, active Twitter accounts and the NHL is making social media an active part of its marketing effort, the individual NHL team Twitters are left wondering… so, um, how should we use this thing? The Los Angeles Kings are firmly in that camp. Should they use Twitter to highlight when a famous celebrity is taking in a home game?

Or should they use it when they want to highlight a player in the system that the fans may not know about?

Should they use it to promote barely-legal drinking?

Or to update you on the most important, fast-breaking Los Angeles Kings news?

Or maybe for corporate synergy?

But maybe, like most Twitter accounts, it should just be used for inner reflection… to understand one’s place in the universe… and to spread that knowledge.

So what starts happening when NHLTeams are able to connect directly with fans… but don’t like what the fans are saying? Why am I asking all these questions? Because I want to know why the hell on January 27th, 2011, the official Los Angeles Kings Twitter tweeted at me twice… and then within a few minutes… any trace of the tweets… had disappeared.

Thursday, January 27th, 2011 I published a blog posting that was an in-depth analysis of the infamous Los Angeles Kings “Burger King” Jersey. And I posted this on my Twitter account.

And a few minutes later, this mention popped up on the Twitter feed on my iPhone.

I have to admit, I’m not the most positive blogger when it comes to the team I’ve been following for 20+ years. So I was a little excited when they decide to throw some Twitter love my way. And then… I got greedy.

I sent @LAKings a direct message asking for more.

And a few minutes later…

Sure, they didn’t actually link to the story… but who cares!?! The LA Kings Twitter loved me! And that’s all that mattered! I counted down the seconds until Half Season Ticket Holder Buddy came online so I could share the good news.

WHAT?!?!?!?!!!!!!

I went to the @LA Kings Twitter feed… and low and behold… it was gone. Any mention of The Royal Half from January 27th…. disappeared. Vanished into thin air, just like the LAPD line.

I had no idea what had happened. Again, it’s not like they linked to the article, so did someone from Los Angeles Kings management say “Hey, @LAKings Twitter… what in sam hell are you doing? Don’t you realize we HATE that Royal Half jerk?!” and make them delete the Tweets?

“Luc, did the LA Kings Twitter account just give a shout-out to The Royal Half?! Don’t they know what a dick he is?”

“I’m on it, Tim… you can trust me. That’s why they call me Lucky.”

“No, they call you Lucky because you are lucky and it’s a play on your first name.”

“Sacré bleu.”

So I did what any blue-collar hockey blogger would do in this situation… I hired a big-time Hollywood producer to adapt my life into a “ripped-from the headlines” action-adventure-romantic comedy movie. Presenting the World Premiere of “All The President Trophy’s Men.”

So there you have it, the Curious Case of the Missing @LAKings Tweets… and just so you believe me, here is a screengrab of my phone from that glorious day in January, where for but a few seconds… the Los Angeles Kings loved me.

Wow, that conversation with Mongewse could be taken WAY out of context.